Trauma Charge, Billing & Collection Evaluation

Summa Health System
Akron, OH

The Abaris Group conducted a comprehensive review of the trauma program's charge, billing and collection system evaluating these programs for opportunities for improving the programs net revenue. It involved the analysis of current charges, billing and collection procedures used by the hospital for trauma center patients. The analysis was then compared to national and regional benchmarks for trauma centers and payer impact. The Abaris Group conducted this study via interviews of key charge, billing and collection staff and a walk-through survey following a hypothetical trauma case through the hospital's financial system. In addition, a review and analysis of a sample number of trauma patient financial accounts were also completed.

The second phase of the project involved a similar review of physician billing for the trauma specialists working with the hospital. The third phase of the project involved work sessions focusing on the skills necessary for optimal billing and collection practices in contemporary trauma centers.

Featured Projects

Emergency Preparedness Partner – Contra Costa County, California

The Abaris Group and Contra Costa County have been in an emergency preparedness partnership since 2005. During this time, Abaris has helped County staff write and manage a number of federal grants as well as develop disaster and emergency plans and exercises. These projects have included Medical Surge, Alternate Care Site (ACS), Field Treatment Site (FTS), Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI), and Medical Reserve Corp (MRC).

The partnership between The Abaris Group and the county resulted in a unique component for Contra Costa County's Medical Surge Plan - a partnership between the hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. During a surge event, skilled nursing facilities have volunteered to accept lower acuity patients thereby enabling hospitals to increase bed availability for acute patients. This creative thinking will provide over 650 surge beds during a disaster.

The Abaris Group's Studies for the California HealthCare Foundation

The Abaris Group recently completed four studies for the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF). They ranged in topics from telepsychiatry in the ED to freestanding EDs in California to reducing ambulance diversion in California to ED patient tracking systems. To view and download the reports, click here.